SMALL INTESTINE

 Objectives:
By the end of this lecture,
The student should
describe the microscopic
structure of the three
regions of the small
intestine:
1- Duodenum.
2- Jejunum.
3- Ileum.
 SMALL INTESTINE

 To increase surface
area the mucosa has:
– Plicae circulares
(circular folds):
Permanent folds of the
mucosa and submucosa.
– Villi.
– Intestinal crypts (crypts of
Lieberkühn).
– Microvilli (Brush border).
 Duodenum
1. Mucosa:
Shows villi and crypts.
A- Epithelium: simple
columnar epithelium
with goblet cells.
B- Lamina propria:
Loose areolar C.T.
C- Muscularis mucosae:
2 layers of smooth
muscle cells.
 Intestinal villi
 Each Villus is a finger-like
projection of small intestinal
mucosa and it is formed of:
I- Central core of loose areolar C.T.
containing:
» Lymphocytes.
» Plasma cells.
» Fibroblasts.
» Smooth muscle cells.
» Capillary loops.
» Lacteal (blindly ending lymphatic
channels).
II- Villus-covering epithelium.
 Cells Covering the Villi
1- Surface columnar absorptive
cells: They have brush border
(microvilli). They are covered with
thick glycocalx that has digestive
enzymes. They have Junction
complex (tight, adhering and
desmosome junctions).
2- Goblet cells: Increase toward the
ileum.
3- Enteroendocrine (EE) cells
(DNES cells).
 Intestinal Glands (Crypts)
 Simple tubular glands that open between
villi.
 Composed of 5 cell types:
1. Columnar absorptive cells.
2. Goblet cells:
secrete mucus.
3. Enteroendocrine (EE) (DNES) cells:
secrete hormones.
4. Paneth cells:
secrete Lysozyme (antibacterial).
are found in the base of the crypts.
5. Stem cells:
are regenerative cells.
are found in the base of the crypts.
Columnar Absorptive cells Paneth cell
 EE (DNES) cells
EE cells:
• EC cells:
secrete endorphin and
serotonin.
• S cells: secrete secretin.
• D cells: secrete somatostatin.
• A cells: secrete glucagon.
• Mo cells: secrete motilin.
• CCK-PZ cells:
secrete cholecystokinin
(pancreozymin)
 M Cells (Microfold cells)
They are mainly found within the
intestinal epithelium overlying
lymphatic nodules of lamina propria.
Each is a dome-shaped cell (or
specialized squamous cell) with a
basal concavity that contains
intraepithelial lymphocytes and
macrophages.
They phagocytose and transport
antigens present in the intestinal
lumen to the underlying lymphoid
tissue cells to initiate the immune
response to these antigens leading
to the secretion of IgA.
 Duodenum
2. Submucosa:
– Connective tissue containing
blood vessels & nerves.
– Contains Brunner’s glands
(secrete mucus).
3. Muscularis Externa:
– 2 smooth muscle layers:
» Inner circular layer.
» Outer longitudinal layer.
4. Serosa or Adventitia:
Duodenum is invested by a serosa or
adventitia.
Duodenum
 Regional differences of small intestine
 Duodenum: Its submucosa has
Brunner’s glands.
It is invested by serosa or
adventitia
 Jejunum: has neither Brunner’s
glands nor Peyer’s patches.
Jejunum is invested by serosa.
 Ileum: Its lamina propria,
opposite the attachment of the
mesentery, has lymphoid
nodules (Peyer's patches) that
extend to the submucosa.
Ileum is invested by serosa.
GOOD
LUCK